Significant Sports Capital funding awarded to three Athlone clubs

A little more than €590,000 has been allocated to Athlone-based clubs under the Government’s Sports Capital Programme for 2015.

Among the clubs and organisations to benefit from the funding are Athlone Regional Sports Centre (€160,000 ), Athlone Town Football Club (€200,000 ), and Athlone Institute of Technology (€188,233 ).

AIT will use the money to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the recovery and rehabilitation facility in the AIT International Arena gym. The equipment that will be purchased includes cryopods, an AlterG treadmill, watt bikes, infrared saunas, timing gates and testing equipment, and Woodway performance treadmills.

Welcoming the announcement, AIT president Ciarán Ó Catháin said: “This is a fantastic vote of confidence in our elite athlete infrastructure and positions our facilities on a par with the very best in the world.

“We were delighted to partner with Athlone GAA on this application, and I have no doubt that this new equipment will prove hugely beneficial to both organisations. We are very grateful to Minister Ring for his support of our development plans, as well as to Deputy Gabrielle McFadden, who is a tireless champion for the institute.”

Sport and recreation manager, Gordon Brett, said: “AIT’s sport science and testing facilities are attracting elite athletes from a wide variety of sporting codes from the Midlands and beyond. The offering of expert advice and consultation combined with cutting-edge equipment is one that precisely meets the needs of elite athletes and their backroom teams.”

Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, said: “I am delighted to have been able to assist these beneficiaries in securing this funding. I am particularly delighted to have delivered funding of almost €590,000 for Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone Regional Sports Centre, Athlone Town Football Club, Athlone Boat, and Athlone Swimming clubs.

“It is very welcome that, once again, Sports Capital funding is being provided to clubs and local organisations here in this constituency and around the country.”